Federal stimulus money will pay for a pair of Charlotte environmental projects that prevent flooding and clean storm water.
The city will use $2.2 million to create a 28-acre conservation area in the McAlpine Creek watershed. As part of that project, Charlotte’s Storm Water Services department will restore 7,373 linear feet of stream and 6.1 acres of wetland along Muddy Creek and Eastland Branch, tributaries to Campbell Creek, for the wildlife habitat.
In addition, the city will use $577,555 for a water-recycling project at Revolution Park off Barringer Drive. The city will build a 2-acre lake to capture and filter storm water that can be reused for irrigation.
The funds are part of $46 million in federal stimulus money for 36 communities across North Carolina, including Hickory, Gastonia, Conover and Troutman.
The administration of Gov. Bev Perdue says the projects are being funded from the first round of federal stimulus dollars coming into the state’s Department of Environment & Natural Resources.
The U.S. Congress approved the $787 billion stimulus program early this year to help prime the sagging economy.
Among the other projects in the Charlotte region:
•Hickory will receive $1.9 million to replace a sewer system;
•Gastonia will receive $308,532 for the replacement of a sewer line;
•Conover will get more than $1.7 million for a sewer-system project; and
•Troutman will receive $237,595 for sewer pipe, manhole and pump-station modifications.
Source: Charlotte BizJournal.com
